Christmas Eve 2025 at House of Prayer

Henry at the organ console.

December 24, 2025: House of Prayer Lutheran Church in Escondido, California celebrates Christmas Eve. Henry explains:

Our Christmas Eve service! So jubilant; and yet so stressful. After the first fifteen minutes, I was soaked in sweat. Not to mention the last hour and 15 minutes.

Any church musician knows the pressure and demands placed upon us during the Christmas season, but it’s all worth it, in my opinion, because I LOVE Christmas music and it’s my favorite time of the year!

Special thanks to Maestro Mihail Christati, Music Director (and oboist, guitarist and singer), the House of Prayer Singers and Bell Ringers, and guests musicians violinist Michael Doering and violist Mark Doering.

For more about House of Prayer Lutheran Church, see House of Prayer Website.

Photos by Robert Hinrichs.

Pastor Rev. Christina De La Cruz.

House of Prayer Choir sings “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by Mark Hall, with director/guitarist Mihail Christati and piano accompanist Henry Doktorski.

Mihail plays oboe in “Do You Hear What I Hear?”

The Doering brothers, Michael and Mark play “Oh Holy Night.”

The congregation sings “Silent Night.”

The congregation sings “Silent Night.”